Gifts
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The Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” -1Samuel 3:3
I’ve always loved this story of both Samuel and Eli recognizing God’s voice. Samuel was a young ward of the temple priest Eli, and in the middle of the night, he hears someone calling his name. He jumps up and goes right to Eli and says, “Here I am! What do you need?” Old Eli is confused. “I didn’t call you, Samuel. Go back to bed!” The voice calls a second time, and Samual, just as enthusiastically as the first time, once again runs to Eli and asks what he needs. “No, No, No - I didn’t call you!” Eli tellls him. But when it happens a third time, light finally dawns on Marblehead for Eli. “Oh! it is God speaking to you, my son. When God calls you again, just say ‘I am here God!’ and then listen to what God tells you.”
I love how eager Samuel is to please Eli his teacher, and how trusting his respect for the older man’s wisdom was. And I also love how having this eager young boy around revives and re-awakens Eli’s worn-out soul. The next morning Eli is eager to hear what God told Samuel in the middle of the night. Although it was not good news about Eli’s future - or about the future of his two corrupt sons, Eli is open to this change. “May God do what God thinks is best.” He was ready to step aside for God’s new thing.
Children, young people and newcomers have the gift of energy and dreams of new ways to do things. Old timers and experienced people have the gift of perspective. Each can be a complimentary gift to the other when we all have open hearts and minds to both wisdom and change, no matter our point of view.
I’m looking forward to hearing David’s next sermon on this Sunday’s readings. His excitement as a new preacher is a gift to us all. And I hope the feedback and suggestions we offer back to him are a gift to him, too.
